Delhi Police Officer Injured Amidst Intensifying NEET Protest Stone-Pelting at Jantar Mantar

A Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) was injured in stone-pelting on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar, as protests against the alleged NEET paper leak escalated into fresh clashes. ACP Jai Prakash sustained a forehead injury while on duty, with reports indicating another ACP and four other police personnel were also hurt in separate incidents near the protest site. The demonstrations, primarily led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and various student organizations, are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over widespread irregularities in the 2026 NEET exam and CBSE On-Screen Marking. Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his indefinite hunger strike, making legal immunity for all student protesters a non-negotiable condition for ending his fast, even after receiving assurances from Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh regarding other key demands. The protests have drawn thousands, leading to heightened security, internet shutdowns, and reports of police using tear gas and lathicharge to manage the surging crowds, especially near Tolstoy Marg. With the issue rocking Parliament and opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi demanding accountability, the government faces mounting pressure to address the students' grievances and the calls for the Education Minister's resignation. The focus now shifts to whether the Centre will yield to Sonam Wangchuk demand for legal protection for the young protesters, a condition that could significantly influence the future trajectory of this intensifying youth movement and potentially lead to a resolution or further escalation of the unrest across India.